Method and system to monitor movable entities

ABSTRACT

A method to wirelessly monitor an entity having an attached transponder is disclosed. A geographical zone is defined. The geographical zone can be defined by allowing a user to define and load to a transponder a plurality of waypoints, each waypoint defined by a geographical coordinate and a radius originating from the geographical coordinate. The geographical zone can also be defined by selecting a plurality of coordinates that are loaded to a transponder and mapped on a pixilated image. The microprocessor in the attached transponder is programmed to determine the occurrence of an event associated with the status of the entity in relation to the geographical zone. The microprocessor in the transponder is also configured to transmit the data related to the occurrence of an event from the attached transponder to a user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the prior filing date of U.S.provisional patent application No. 60/625,467, filed Nov. 5, 2004,herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application isrelated to U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 11/105,931 filed onApr. 13, 2005, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM TO CONFIGURE AND UTILIZEGEOGRAPHICAL ZONES”; and U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No.11/105,932 filed on Apr. 13, 2005, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM TOCONTROL MOVABLE ENTITIES”; both of which have been filed concurrentlyand are incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to monitoring movable entities. In particular, itrelates to systems and methods to remotely control and monitor movableentities functions and positioning data in relation to pre-configuredgeographical zones.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Vehicle tracking systems have become increasingly popular and moreeconomically accessible to businesses and individuals. Most trackinglocator systems utilize ground positioning system (GPS) technology. GPSvehicle tracking systems have diverse applications such as cargotransportation, public transportation, personal tracking, investigationsof enforcement agencies, and others.

In fleet management, GPS vehicle tracking systems allow increasing fleetefficiency, reducing operating costs such as fuel costs, and supervisingthe correct operation of deliveries, pick-ups, and routes associatedwith fleet operation.

In personal tracking, individuals use GPS vehicle tracking informationto obtain the shortest or fastest path to a destination, their currentlocation in relation to another location, etc. Furthermore, personaltracking systems allow users to track vehicles that have been entrustedto another person. Likewise, enforcement agencies may use GPS vehicletracking systems to locate patrol vehicles as well as to recover stolenvehicles.

While current GPS vehicle tracking systems provide benefits such asincreased productivity and safety, these benefits are yet to bemaximized. Current systems are limited to relaying the GPS informationto a control center or a web server and plotting the position of thevehicle on a computer map.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure provides a system and method that allows a userto monitor vehicles and other moving entities by using preconfiguredgeographical zones.

In one aspect, there is a method to wirelessly monitor an entity havingan attached transponder. A plurality of coordinates is loaded from acomputing device to a memory in an attached transponder. Amicroprocessor in the attached transponder is programmed to define ageographical zone using said plurality of coordinates to create anenclosed area on a pixilated image, wherein said enclosed area isrepresentative of a geographical zone. The microprocessor in theattached transponder is programmed to determine the occurrence of anevent associated with the status of the entity in relation to thegeographical zone. The microprocessor in the transponder is alsoconfigured to transmit the data related to the occurrence of an eventfrom the attached transponder to a user. The status of the entity isbased upon movement of the entity, position of the entity andnon-movement of the entity.

In one aspect, the event can be leaving a geographical zone, entering ageographical zone, turning on an ignition to the entity, turning off theignition to the entity, change of speed of the entity, change oftemperature of an engine of the entity, change of internal temperatureof the entity, change of fuel level in a fuel tank of the entity,locking of a door or latch of the entity, unlocking of the door or latchof the entity, opening a window of the entity, closing a window of theentity, opening a door of the entity, closing of a door of the entity,pushing a button connected to the entity in relation to an emergency,reaching a predetermined distance traveled, reaching a predeterminedtime traveled, reaching a predetermined time, reaching a predetermineddate, reaching a maximum speed threshold, reaching a maximum timepermitted to maintain a status of being over the speed threshold,reaching a maximum a acceleration threshold, reaching maximum length ofidle of a vehicle, change of the power level of the battery, a bar codescanned by a connected scanner, passenger loading or unloading, cargoloading or unloading, vehicle part malfunction, vehicle diagnostics codereceived, impact detected, airbag deployed, seatbelts latched, seatbeltsunlatched, or change of tire air pressure.

In one aspect, the data transmitted from the attached transponder is thespeed of the entity, direction of movement of the entity, state of anelectrical input to the entity, state of an electrical output of theentity, or geographical position of the entity. The data transmittedfrom the attached transponder can be communicated to a control center orto a portable device.

In another aspect, the enclosed area on a pixilated image is formed byassigning each pixel is to a coordinate and configuring the distancebetween each assigned pixel. In another aspect, the enclosed area iscreated by connecting a plurality of assigned pixels by lines, wherein aseries of contiguous and connected lines enclose an area in thepixilated image and wherein said pixels that lie on the lines are turnedon in order to form a contiguous array of pixels that enclose a shape inthe pixilated image.

In one aspect, there is a method to wirelessly monitor an entity havingan attached transponder. A geographical zone is defined using aplurality of waypoints, wherein each waypoint is defined by ageographical coordinate and a radius originating from the geographicalcoordinate. A computing device is loaded to the attached transponder'smemory a plurality of waypoints. A microprocessor in the attachedtransponder is programmed to determine the occurrence of an eventassociated with the position of the entity in relation to thegeographical zone. The microprocessor in the transponder is alsoconfigured to transmit the data related to the occurrence of an eventfrom the attached transponder to a user.

In another aspect, the geographical coordinate is represented by alatitude and longitude, and the radius is represented by a distancemagnitude. The attached transponder can determine whether the attachedtransponder is inside or outside the geographical zone by obtainingglobal positioning coordinates, and calculating whether the globalpositioning coordinates are inside at least one waypoint of theplurality of waypoints. Furthermore, the shape of the geographical areais the shape of the border delimiting a street route, a state, a city, acounty, or a country.

In another aspect, all waypoints in the plurality of waypoints have thesame coordinate but different radii, such that all the waypoints in theplurality of waypoints are concentric.

In one aspect, there is a method to wirelessly monitor an entity havingan attached transponder. The method comprises using a computing deviceto identify a geometrical area using at least two coordinate attributes,wherein said geometrical area is divided into a grid having at least onesection, defining a geographical zone by selecting within the grid theat least one section representative of a desired area and correlating atleast one section into a pixilated computer image by associating atleast one section to a pixel, loading said pixilated computer image intothe attached transponder's memory, programming a microprocessor in theattached transponder to determine the occurrence of an event associatedwith the position of the entity in relation to the geographical zone,and configuring the microprocessor in the transponder to transmit thedata related to the occurrence of an event from the attached transponderto a user.

In another aspect, the geometrical area is rectangular and is dividedinto a plurality of rectangles. The geometrical area can also becircular and be divided into a plurality of sections.

In one aspect, there is a method to wirelessly control an entity havingan attached transponder. The method comprises loading from a computingdevice to the transponder's memory a plurality of coordinates,programming a microprocessor of a transponder to define a geographicalzone by creating an enclosed area on a pixilated image using saidplurality of coordinates, wherein said enclosed area is representativeof a geographical zone, and programming a microprocessor in thetransponder to transmit data to a control center upon receiving acommand from the control center, the data being associated with thestatus of the entity in relation to the geographical zone.

In one aspect, there is a method to wirelessly control an entity havingan attached transponder. The method comprises defining a geographicalzone using a plurality of waypoints, wherein each waypoint is defined bya geographical coordinate and a radius originating from the geographicalcoordinate, loading from a computing device to the transponder's memorya plurality of waypoints, and programming a microprocessor in thetransponder to transmit data to a control center upon receiving acommand from the control center, the data being associated with thestatus of the entity in relation to the geographical zone.

In another aspect, there is a method to wirelessly control an entityhaving an attached transponder. The method comprises using a computingdevice to identify a geometrical area using at least two coordinateattributes, wherein said geometrical area is divided into a grid havingat least one section, defining a geographical zone by selecting withinthe grid the at least one section representative of a desired area andcorrelating at least one section into a pixilated computer image byassociating at least one section to a pixel, loading said pixilatedcomputer image into the transponder's memory, and programming amicroprocessor in the transponder to transmit data to a control centerupon receiving a command from the control center, the data beingassociated with the status of the entity in relation to the geographicalzone.

In yet another aspect, there is a method to wirelessly control an entityhaving an attached transponder. The method comprises storing in a memoryof a transponder data representative of a geographical zone, andmeasuring data utilizing a plurality of peripheral devices connected tothe entity, the data being representative of the status of the entity inrelation the geographical zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example, reference will now be made to the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates the high-level architecture of a computer system forcontrolling and monitoring vehicles.

FIG. 2 illustrates a component layout of a transponder used in a systemfor controlling and monitoring vehicles.

FIG. 3A illustrates a view of the front exterior of the transponder usedin a system for controlling and monitoring vehicles.

FIG. 3B illustrates a view of the back exterior of the transponder usedin a system for controlling and monitoring vehicles.

FIG. 3C illustrates a multiple pin connector included on thetransponder.

FIG. 4A illustrates a window of the transponder configurationapplication where the modem is being detected.

FIG. 4B illustrates a window of the transponder configurationapplication where the user may select parameters to configure the modem.

FIG. 4C illustrates a window of the transponder configurationapplication where the user may select parameters to configure multipleinputs and outputs.

FIG. 4D illustrates a window of the transponder configurationapplication where the user may select parameters to configure multiplelogical and physical events.

FIG. 4E illustrates a window of the transponder configurationapplication where the user may select parameters to configure multipleinputs and features.

FIG. 4F illustrates a window of the transponder configurationapplication where the user may select parameters to configure multipleinputs and features.

FIG. 4G illustrates a window of the transponder configurationapplication where the user may select parameters to configure multipleinputs and features.

FIG. 5A illustrates a pixel map of a zone.

FIG. 5B illustrates a pixel map of a geographical zone.

FIG. 6 illustrates a component diagram of a backend control system.

FIG. 7A illustrates a screenshot of an instance of a client console.

FIG. 7B illustrates a screenshot of an instance of a client console.

FIG. 7C illustrates a screenshot of an instance of a client console.

FIG. 7D illustrates a screenshot of an instance of a client console.

FIG. 8 illustrates a screenshot of an instance of the administratorconsole.

FIG. 9A illustrates a screenshot of an instance of the operations dataprocessor.

FIG. 9B illustrates a screenshot of an instance of the operations dataprocessor.

FIG. 9C illustrates a screenshot of an instance of the operations dataprocessor.

FIG. 10A illustrates a screenshot of an instance of the history dataprocessor.

FIG. 10B illustrates a screenshot of an instance of the history dataprocessor.

FIG. 11 illustrates a screenshot of an instance of a disable transponderprocessor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Asset management and monitoring devices that use ground positioningsystems allow users to track the position of vehicles and cargo andother entities. The method and system described below utilizes atransponder that communicates over cellular and satellite communicationnetworks in combination with GPS positioning satellites capable ofproviding position and status information on a global scale. Thetransponder allows interaction with and control of a wide range ofperipheral devices, including operating according to preconfiguredgeographical zones and events.

A transponder can be mounted, attached, manufactured, or otherwiseincluded upon/in various articles or entities. Such articles or entitiesmay include vehicles, aircraft, cargo, persons, animals, or any otheritem where tracking its movement and/or location is beneficial. Withinthe context of the tracking system, the transponder works to collect,process, and communicate information about the article or entity towhich the transponder is attached. Furthermore, when requested, thetransponder can issue various commands and instructions to the localarticle or entity.

The transponder has the features, flexibility, and capability of anintelligent device. The transponder contains an at least 32-bitprocessor which can interface with at least one modem (cellular,satellite, and others), at least one Global Positioning System (GPS)receiver, at least one memory module, and other peripheral devices.Other components of the transponder may include, but are not limited isat least one GPS antenna, at least one modem antenna, at least oneserial port for communication and configuration, at lest one multipleconnector pin which contains at least one input and at least one output.These inputs and outputs are configurable to be associated with aconfigurable event or configurable operation.

The transponder can include many different combinations of thecomponents listed above and similar components. For example, atransponder may have two modems wherein one modem is a satellite modemand one modem is a cellular modem. Additionally, a transponder couldalso contain a Bluetooth receiver in combination with the othercomponents. The components of the transponder depend upon whichcapabilities the user requires.

Among its many capabilities, the central processing unit of thetransponder can be configured to manage configurable events orconfigurable operations. Managing events means that among othercapabilities, the transponder can report, observe, recognize, process,and analyze numerous configurable events or configurable operations,give and respond to various commands, effectuate numerous events in itslocal installation, and contain a history recording component.

The event message triggered by physical and logical events include theevent message itself and such information includes latitude, longitude,speed, direction, time, state of all the inputs, state of all outputs,odometer, event reason or source, and any other relevant informationconcerning the entity.

The transponder is configurable to include as few or as manyconfigurable logical events or physical events as the user desires.Events may be physical or logical. Logical events may be based on rulesusing a combination of the GPS position and one other factor such astime or speed. However, Logical events can be based upon a combinationof factors. Physical events are those events which are physicallymanifested in the vehicle or object.

Configurable events or configurable operations refer to those actionsthat the CPU in the transponder will execute. Configurable events orconfigurable operations include, but are not limited to, the turning onor off of an ignition to a vehicle; the temperature level or changethereof; the fuel tank level or change thereof; the pressing of a buttonor level within a vehicle, wherein the button is associated with anemergency event; locking or unlocking of a door or latch, the opening orclosing of a window, turning on or off of a LED signal light, theturning or off of various relays, the turning on or off of an alarm; thechange of the power level of the battery; a bar code scanned by aconnected scanner; passenger loading or unloading; cargo loading orunloading; vehicle part malfunction; vehicle diagnostics code received;impact detected; airbag deployed; seatbelts latched/unlatched; tire airpressure high/low; and other mechanisms in the vehicle or object.

Other configurable events or configurable operations include thelocation of the vehicle or object in terms of latitude, longitude,and/or altitude; the time and corresponding location of the lastconfigurable event reported; the speed and direction of the vehicle orobject, the state of any assigned inputs or outputs or change thereof; apre-selected distance; a pre-selected time interval; pre-selectedintervals based upon date and time reference; a pre-selected schedulefor reporting and recording any of the configurable events orconfigurable operations; a pre-selected maximum speed; maximumacceleration; length of idle for a vehicle; length of non movement foran object.

Additional configurable events or configurable operations include theentering or exiting of a pre-set waypoint or a pre-set zone. A waypointis a circular area defined by a geographical center point and radius.The area defined by the waypoint is configurable by changing the radiusand the position of the geographical center point. A zone is anirregular region defined by a series of line segments enclosing an area.

The configurable events or configurable operations or combinationsthereof can be processed in order to transmit a specific message,respond to a specific query or command, enable or disable a specificmechanism, or recognize a specific event. For example, the CPU can beconfigured to process that at if at a pre-selected time the vehicle orobject has not moved a pre-selected distance, then the transponder issent a command to turn off the ignition of the vehicle or otherwisealter the article.

The configurable events or configurable operations occur in manysituations. These situations include, but are not limited to whereconfigurable events or configurable operations occur in response to acommand; where configurable events or configurable operations occur inresponse to a query, or where configurable or configurable operationsevents occur upon recognition of pre-selected conditions.

Configurable boundaries or geographical zones can also be used and areconfigurable to any shape the user desires. For example, the boundary orzone can trace the border of a state line or trace the route of aselected highway or path. The boundary or zone can trace the border ofthe premises of a school zone, a no-fly zone, a city, etc. The boundaryor zone can also be a geometric shape or non-geometric shape. A furtherbenefit of the present disclosure is that the transponder can be updatedand configured locally or over-the-air.

FIG. 1A illustrates the high-level architecture of a computer system forcontrolling and monitoring vehicles. A plurality of vehicles 110 has atleast one transponder 105 that can be tracked and allows thefunctionality to remotely control functionality of the vehicle 115.

The transponder 105 connects with a plurality and any combination ofcommunication networks. In one embodiment, such communications networkis a cellular network including multiple cellular base stations 120 andservice providers 135. In another embodiment, such communicationsnetwork is a cellular network including multiple cellular base stationswith SMS receivers 125 and service providers 140. In another embodiment,such communications network is a satellite network including multiplesatellite receivers and transmitters 130 and satellite ground stations145. In yet another embodiment, such communications network is a shortradio communications network.

The communications network permits the transponder 105 to communicatewith a backend control system 150. The transponder 105 sends eventinformation to backend control system 150 and responds to commands sentto the transponder 105 by the backend control system 150 through thecommunications network. The backend control system 150 includes aplurality of gateways 151, 152, 153 and 154 which interact with a codec155. The codec 155 is the central codifier and decodifier of the backendcontrol system 150 and allows the backend control system to adapt andcommunicate with any communications network. The modular design enablesthe introduction of new hardware and network protocols without having tochange monitoring and reporting software. The backend control system 150also includes an asynchronous routing system 159 that allows incomingand outgoing communications to be handled asynchronously andefficiently. In one embodiment, the asynchronous routing system 159includes a plurality of routing services 156, at least one database 157and a web server 158. The messages routed by the routing services 156are directly communicated to a client console 176. The client console176 presents vehicle 115 and transponder 105 information to theoperator. The client console 176 sends to commands to the transponder105 through the backend control system 150 and a communication network.

Multiple applications may connect to the central database 157 to providefurther system functionality. An administrator console 175 permitsoperators to add, edit or delete transponder 105 information, vehicle115 information, user information, etc. A history processor console 174allows an operator to view reports and replay event data. An operationsdata processor 173 permits an operator to define geographical zones andwaypoints for operation of the transponder 105. A configuration utility172 permits operators to easily configure transponder 105 features andfunctionality.

Vehicle information can be presented to the operator through alternativemediums besides a client console 176. In one embodiment, vehicleinformation can be presented to an operator through a website or anemail by transmitting such information from a web server 158 to a webclient 171. In another embodiment, vehicle information can be presentedto the operator by sending a text or voice messages to a predeterminedwireless device 180.

FIG. 1B illustrates the wireless connectivity of the transponder 105.The transponder 105 receives radio signals from a GPS constellation 131allowing the transponder 105 to process positioning information. Thetransponder 105 can communicate wirelessly to various networks throughmultiple wireless devices integrated in the transponder's 105 hardwaresuch as short range radio 154, a cellular receiver 120 and 125, and asatellite 130.

Transponder Hardware Configuration

FIG. 2 illustrates the internal board 240 of the transponder 105. Thetransponder board 240 contains at least one GPS receiver 215, at leastone CPU 210, at least one cellular modem 220, and at least one memorymodule 280. At least one Bluetooth receiver can be included in theinternal board 240. In one embodiment, the tracking system uses utilizesboth cellular and satellite networks to provide the most affordable andcomplete global coverage.

The global positioning (GPS) receiver 215 is a capable of positioningaccuracy to within a few feet or less. For example, a 12-Channel TrimbleSQ, Lapaic UV40, or small-range accurate receivers are contemplated.

The processor 210 is at least a 32-bit processor. The processor 210includes at least 32 Kilo-bytes of RAM. For example, a Motorola MMC211432-Bit RISC processor with two built-in UART's is contemplated. However,a similar or more advanced processor is also contemplated. The memorymodule 280 includes at least two additional memory chips, wherein eachadditional memory chip is at least 128K.

In one embodiment, the cellular receiver or cellular modem 220 is theprimary means for communication. The cellular modem 220 interfaces withat least one on board processor 110's built-in serial ports 345 or 340as illustrated in FIG. 3B. The cellular modem 220 may be a GSM, CDMA orsimilar modem. The satellite modem or transceiver 230 is external to thetransponder 105 and is connected by a serial port 340. In oneembodiment, the satellite modem 230 is located under fiberglass or anyother non-metal material in order to provide maximum coverage. Thesatellite modem 230 is primarily used only when there is little or nocellular coverage or when the user specifies use of the satellite modem230. The efficient use of the satellite modem 230 functions to lower thecost of the tracking system to the user. One embodiment contemplates asatellite modem 230 such as a Sky Wave DMR-200 satellite modem. Similarcontemplated satellite modems include features such as a built-inomni-directional antenna, provide worldwide coverage, and efficientlyinterfaces with the transponder's processor 210.

The Bluetooth receiver 215 has a range of at least 20 meters. Forexample, in one embodiment, a National Semiconductor Simply Blue LMX9820Class 2 Bluetooth module is contemplated. However, similar or moreadvanced Bluetooth receivers are contemplated any other radioconnectivity which does not require a line of sight. Preferably, theBluetooth receiver 215 is installed to utilize different capabilitiessuch as integrating and supporting multiple wireless peripherals, actingas a short-range radio to download data, or to serve as a local,traveling wireless “hotspot.”

In one embodiment, the power source 135, is a fused main power-in sourcewith a recommended operating voltage range between 12 and 24 volts. Oneembodiment contemplates low power consumption (65 mA or less) duringnormal operation. Furthermore, the transponder 105 includes a circuitryfor charging an optional backup battery. If the primary power source 135supply reaches a minimum acceptable voltage, the transponder 105 willautomatically switch to backup power as well transmit a messageidentifying that the power source 135 is a critical level.

The transponder 105 is a small and affordable unit with numerousfeatures. The external view of the transponder is illustrated in FIGS.3A and 3B. In one embodiment, the housing 335 of the transponder 105 ismetal or made from a material that functions to protect the innercomponents from external events such as physical damage, dust, water,excessive temperatures or any other event which could affect theintegrity of the transponder. As illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C,the transponder 105 contains at least two external communication ports305 and 340, a multiple pin connector 345 with at least nine sensorinputs 350, at least four control outputs 355, a modem antenna connector300, several indicators 315, 320, 325, 330, and a GPS antenna connector310. In another embodiment, a Bluetooth antenna (not depicted) is anoptional feature.

The multiple pin connection 345 of one embodiment contains 20 pins. Thenumber of pins within the transponder 105 is variable ranging from zeroto as many pins as appropriate for its intended use.

At least nine of the pins function as inputs 345. The inputs 345function to gather information concerning the status of the article inwhich the transponder 105 is mounted upon. Each input can be assigned toa corresponding specific configurable event or operation. The inputsignal may be analog or digital. In one embodiment, each input 345 isoptically isolated and protected against over-voltage/under-voltagecurrent surges. Furthermore, each input 345 can be individually enabledor disabled either locally via a serial cable or over the air.Additionally, each input 345 is configurable over the air and locally.These inputs 345 are configurable to the specific desires and uses ofthe user. These capabilities are later discussed in further detail.

In one embodiment, at least one input 345 is a digital input dedicatedto the ignition circuit path of a vehicle. If the input 345 is enabled,a message is transmitted when the vehicle is turned on. A second messageis transmitted when the vehicle is turned off. Analog inputs are alsouseful in functioning with ranges. For example, an analog input canfunction with temperature and fuel tank levels. In one embodiment, theremaining inputs function to monitor different features of the vehicle.

Other inputs 345 may include a panic input which may be connected to anemergency button installed discreetly inside the vehicle. If the panicinput is enabled and the emergency button is pressed for pre-selected,configurable amount of time, a message is transmitted relating the panicevent. Similar inputs may include a medical assistance input, roadsideassistance input or any other inputs which the operator may use forimmediately communicating an event. These messages can be continuallytransmitted for a determined period of time until the message isacknowledged by the proper party or monitoring entity.

At least four of the pins in the pin connector 345 function as outputs355. The outputs 355 function to control mechanisms or enact functionsupon the article or vehicle where the transponder 105 is mounted. Eachoutput 355 is fused and capable of providing at least 0.5 amps perchannel. However, if more than one output 355 channel is utilized thesum total of all used output channels should not exceed one amp. Eachoutput 355 can be set high or low utilizing an over-the-air command. Inone embodiment, the outputs 355 control various apparatus and objectswithin the vehicle itself. For example purposes only, the outputs cancontrol the door locks, the vehicle windows, a LED signal light, thefuel tanks or valves, various relays, and other mechanisms in thevehicle. The LED signal light can function as an acknowledgement tool.For example, in the case of medical, roadside, or safety assistance isneeded, the occupier or passenger of the vehicle can press a button toalert the client console 176. When the operator or appropriate entityreceives and acknowledges the event, a command is sent back to thetransponder 105 that will turn on an intermittent light for a determinedamount of time so that the occupier or passenger is assured the messagewas received and assistance is on the way. In other embodiments, such asa cargo, the outputs 355 can control various features of the cargo suchas a locking mechanism, a signal light, or temperature control.

The serial ports 305 and 340 in FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate at least one9-pin serial port 340 for the purpose of interacting with, andcontrolling peripheral devices and at least one 4-pin serial interface305 consisting of data in/out and two flow control lines. The externalserial port 340 can support various peripheral devices such as a MDT(mobile data terminal), satellite modem, bar code scanner, short-rangeradio, or PDA. For example, the external serial port 340 can support apassenger counter which interfaces several door infrared motion sensorsfor the purpose of the counting the number of people entering or exitingfrom the one to four doors. The serial port 305 can also be used to testand configure applications within the transponder 105. In oneembodiment, the port 305 functions as a programming port which is usedwhen programming the unit for the first time or re-programming theunit's core program.

The indicators 370 in FIG. 3A can be associated with any type ofconnection, signal, power level, status, and any other similarcommunications. In one embodiment and in FIG. 3A, indicator 330 is a LEDthat appears red when the transponder has power connected to it.Indicator 325 is a LED which blinks green at a rapid pace when the GPSreceiver is establishing a connection and slowly blinks green when aconnection is established. Indicator 320 is a LED light which blinksgreen for every message received and red for every message sent.Finally, indicator 315 is a LED which is red when the cellular modem isroaming and is green when it is at home.

Transponder Firmwear Configuration

The transponder 105 has numerous features, functions, and capabilitiesdescribed below. The transponder 105 is an intelligent device controlledby an at least 32-bit processor 110. FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment wherethe processor 105 has the capability to interface with a GPS receiver310, a cellular modem 200, a Bluetooth radio 220, a memory module 180,and a satellite modem 130.

The transponder 105 can be configured to report, observe, and analyzenumerous logical events. The transponder is also configurable to giveand respond to various commands, and contains a configurablehistory-recording component. A further benefit of the present disclosureis that all the configurations to the transponder 105 can be donelocally or over-the-air. Thus, the user is able to configure anyfeatures including the entire operating system of the transponder overthe air. This over-the-air configuration can be accomplished through useof the cellular modem 200, the Bluetooth radio 220, or any otherwireless means.

Moreover, the transponder 105 can be configured locally throughconnecting to a serial port 305 or 340. Another benefit of the presentdisclosure is that during over-the-air or local configuration, thetransponder 105 continues to operate normally. This means thetransponder 105 can be configured with losing little to no operability.Over-the-air configuration commands change the parameters used forprocessing physical and logical events on the fly. Over-the-airoperating system updates are achieved using two executable code spaces,and a temporary code space for loading new code. Once the uploading ofnew code into the temporary code space is completed, the transponderreboots, copies the new code into the secondary executable code spaceand resumes execution with the most recent update.

FIGS. 4A-4G are exemplary screen shots of the user interface forconfiguring the physical and logical events within the transponder inone embodiment. FIGS. 4A-4G serve only as examples of a generalinterface which the user can interact with to configure the transponder105. One important feature of the present disclosure is that configuringthe transponder does not require the user to know scripts or hard-codedparameters. Instead, the present disclosure includes a softwareapplication which the user can easily interface with logical windows,tabs, fields, checkboxes and radio buttons to configure the transponder.

FIG. 4A is a screen shot of a window that interfaces with the user toconfigure the transponder 105. The window 400 has at least four tabs 401from which the user can choose. The first tab 402 directs the user to awindow 400 for configuring the modem of the transponder 105.

The second tab 403 directs the user to a window 400 where the user canconfigure at least 8 Inputs 345 and at least 4 outputs 355. FIG. 4Cdepicts the interface when the second tab 403 is selected. The activitylevel 407 of the inputs 345 can be configured to be either high or low.The outputs 355 can be configured to default to an active or inactivestate at startup using the “On” field box 410. The outputs 355 can befurther configured to be associated with a LED acknowledgment 411. Theoutputs 355 can be assigned to any type of control mechanism or functionwithin the vehicle or article where the transponder 105 is mounted. Forexample, the outputs 355 can be assigned with a door locking mechanismin a vehicle. In this example, if Output 1 355 in FIG. 4C is associatedwith a door locking mechanism, the user could check the “On” 410 fieldbox. When the transponder first boots, the door locks connected tooutput 1 would automatically lock, and would remain locked untilunlocked by an over-the-air command. When an output is selected as anLED acknowledge, that output will change to an active state during anacknowledgeable priority event, and blink to off when that priorityevent is acknowledged by the Response Center.

The third tab 404 directs the user to a window 400 where the user canconfigure certain logical events. FIG. 4D depicts the interface when thethird tab 404 is selected. The logical events 412-420 in FIG. 4D areexemplary only. Moreover, the present disclosure contemplates a varietyof configurable logical events not depicted in FIG. 4D. The logicalevents 412-420 selected in FIG. 4D are individually discussed below.Each event has a corresponding field box in which the user can fill inthe appropriate value.

The fourth tab 405 directs the user to a window 400 where the user canconfigure the inputs 345 and specific features of the transponder 105.FIGS. 4E, 4F, and 4G depict the interface when the third tab 404 isselected. As stated above, each input can be assigned a correspondingevent. For example, an input 345 can be assigned to the ignition of avehicle. Thus, occurrences associated with the ignition of the vehicleare communicated and displaced as a specific Input 345. The user has theability to configure each input 345 and each feature 429-445 by enablingthe input or feature 424, assigning the events as a priority event 425,assigning one or more outputs 426 to the events, or link the occurrenceof the events to a messaging sent via the cellular network 427.

Events can be physical or logical. Physical and logical events triggerthe sending of a message over the air when certain conditions are met.Most logical events are based on rules using a combination of the GPSposition and one other factor such as time or speed. The event messagetriggered by physical and logical events includes the event messageitself and such information includes latitude, longitude, speed,direction, time, state of all the inputs 345, odometer, event reason orsource, and any other relevant information. The logical events areusually software driven, calculation based, and typically draw from GPSpositions. The transponder 105 is configurable to include as few or asmany logical events as the user desires. One embodiment includes atleast six different configurable logical events.

The first logical event of one embodiment is a feature that reports thelast known location of the transponder for a specified interval of time.This time reporting 412 features is depicted in FIG. 4D. The statusreport to the user may consist of other parameters such as latitude,longitude, speed, direction, time and the state of the inputs 345. Forexample, FIG. 4D shows an example where the user configured the timereporting 412 interval for 60 seconds. This means that in this scenario,the last known location status and applicable parameters are reportedevery 60 seconds. This time reporting feature 412 gives the userflexibility and the option to lower the cost of data transmission. FIG.4D also depicts an entry for Satellite Timed Reporting Interval 413,where the same time reporting feature is applicable, only the message istransmitted via an optional satellite modem. Again, due to the typicallyhigher costs of satellite communication, the user has the flexibility todetermine how often he or she wishes to incur the cost of satellitereporting on a fixed time period.

The second logical event of one embodiment is a feature that furtherrefines the reporting capabilities of the time reporting feature 412.This event is depicted as Smart Time Reporting 414 on FIG. 4D. The SmartTime Reporting 414 feature functions to transmit a report only when thevehicle has moved a pre-selected distance since the last transmittedreport. FIG. 4D shows that the Smart Time Reporting 414 feature isconfigurable in terms of a time interval 415 and distance 416. Thus, auser could configure the transponder 105 to report its location andapplicable parameters by selecting a timed reporting interval 415 interms of seconds and a distance 416 in terms of meters. For example, auser could select the time reporting interval 415 for 60 seconds and thedistance 416 for 1000 meters. This would mean that every 60 seconds thetransponder would send a report unless the transponder 105 has not movedat least 1000 meters since the last report. This smart time reporting414 feature allows the user to tailor the amount of reporting and thecost of data transmission.

Another contemplated reporting feature, not depicted, is a scheduledreporting features. This feature sets the transponder's reportingfeature on an interval based upon a date and time reference. Thus, theuser can configure the transponder to report location and the otherparameters on pre-selected days and hours of the week. For example, auser could use the scheduled reporting feature to configure thetransponder to only report at 8 am, 12 pm and 4 pm on weekdays and onlyonce per weekend day. Also not depicted is satellite scheduled reportingwhere the same scheduled reporting capabilities are applicable, only themessage is transmitted via an optional satellite modem

A third logical event of the one embodiment is a speeding feature. Thetransponder 105 can be configured to send reports dependent on the speedof the vehicle or article the transponder 105 is mounted to. FIG. 4Dshows that the user can configure the transponder 105 for at least 2different settings concerning speed. Specifically, the user can selectthe excessive speed 417 and a speed filter time 420. The excessive speed417 is configurable for the user to select a maximum speed threshold forthe vehicle or article. Thus, each time the speed threshold is exceeded,events are generated, recording when the threshold was exceed, themaximum speed reached when above the threshold and when the unit crossedbelow the threshold. When the transponder 105 crosses back below thethreshold, the event message indicating this occurrence as well as athird message indicating the maximum speed reached during the periodwhen the transponder 105 was above the speed threshold is transmitted.The speed time filter 420 gives the user the option to set a time periodin terms of seconds to allow the vehicle or article to cross the speedthreshold without sending a message. This filter also acts to make datatransmission efficient. For example, the user can set the speed timefilter 420 for 15 seconds which allows the vehicle to speed for 15seconds without sending a report. This scenario is beneficial forinstances when the vehicle is speeding to pass another vehicle oraccelerating to merge into traffic. Similar to the other logical events,the event message also includes information such as the latitude,longitude, speed, direction, time, and state of the inputs.

A fourth logical event of one embodiment is an excessive idle feature421. The transponder 105 can be configured to send reports dependent onthe amount of time the vehicle or article has been idle. FIG. 4G showsthat the user can configure the excessive idle 421 feature to be enabled422, considered a priority event 425, assigned an output 426, or linkedto a messaging system for cellular phones 427. The excessive idle 421feature generates an event message whenever the maximum excessive idletime is reached. The event message records the time and locationcorresponding to when the threshold was exceeded. This feature ishelpful to users who wish to monitor or reduce the number of vehicleswhich have the ignition turned on (using gasoline), but are not moving.

Geofencing

The next logical event of one embodiment is a “geofencing” or creatingconfigurable boundaries or geographical zones feature. This featureconsists of generating events when the transponder travels throughwaypoints and zones. A configurable boundary or geographical zone may beconstructed through a combination of waypoints and/or zones. Because ofthis combination, the configurable boundary or geographical zone can beconstructed in a very specific shape and outline specific borders orroutes. A waypoint is a circular area defined by a geographical centerpoint and radius. The area defined by the waypoint is configurable bychanging the radius and the position of the geographical center point.Thus, the boundary created by the waypoints and zones is configurable.

In one embodiment, the transponder 105 is loaded with a plurality ofwaypoints, each waypoint defined by a coordinate and a radius. A zonecan be defined by a plurality of waypoints. Thus, for example, a citycan be defined by two waypoints. Using GPS data, the transponder willcalculate whether it is in any of the two waypoints defining the city.If the transponder determines that it is inside one of the twowaypoints, then the transponder 105 assumes that it is within the limitsof the city.

A zone is an irregular region defined by a series of line segmentsenclosing an area. In one embodiment, each zone contains 3 to 256 ormore deflection points for creating the line segments defining thisirregular area. In one embodiment, this irregular area can create aconfigurable boundary or a geographical zone. The properties of a zoneinclude a name, description and a flag determining if the zone is anoff-limits zone or an enclosed zone.

In one embodiment, a geographical zone may be created selecting aplurality of coordinates and downloading the coordinates to thetransponder 105. The plurality of coordinates may be in the Mercatorsystem. Next, the transponder 105 assigns each coordinate to a pixel ina pixilated image that is loaded in the transponder 105. In order toperform the assignment, the transponder 105 utilizes logic to define a“bounding” square or box around the plurality of coordinates. Then thebounding box is pixilated and the pixels where the coordinates falls aremarked as activated. Once the pixels for each coordinate are assigned,lines are extended from one pixel to the next so as to form an enclosedarea in the pixilated image. The pixels the lie in the path of the linesbetween the activated pixels are also activated. Thus an enclosed andcontiguous line of pixels is formed.

Waypoints and zones are built by the operations data processor 173. Oncea waypoint has been built, it can be used in transponder loads.Transponder loads are a collection of zones and waypoints slated to beloaded on a transponder 105. These loads are loaded on to thetransponders with the configuration utility 172.

FIG. 4F illustrates a screenshot of the configuration utility 172 forconfiguring waypoint and zone events. The configuration utility 172allows the operator to configure the Waypoint Proximity enter feature433, the Waypoint exit feature 434, the Zone Boundary enter feature 435,and the Zone Boundary Exit feature 436. The Waypoint Proximity enterfeature 433 monitors when a waypoint has been entered, the Waypoint exitfeature 434 monitors when a waypoint has been exited, the Zone Boundaryenter feature 435 monitors when a zone has been entered, and the ZoneBoundary Exit feature 436 monitors when a zone has been exited. FIGS. 4Fand 4G show the user interface of one embodiment where the user mayenable the waypoint and zone features, assign the events as a priorityevent 425, assign an output 426 to the events, or link the occurrence ofthe events to a messaging system for cellular phones 427.

FIG. 5A illustrates a pixel map 500 of a zone. After all the deflectionpoints for a given zone are uploaded, the zone is saved in the memorymodule 280 of the transponder 105 in the form of a pixel map 500. Thepixel map 500 is created by first drawing a square around the entirearea of the zone. The square is then divided into an 80/80-pixel map.Each pixel 505 is a square. These squares are then used to draw theoutline shape 510 of the zone 515. A geographical area is then mapped toeach pixel 505 of the pixel map 500. A position fix 520 in the pixel map500 is mapped from the current geographical location of the vehicle.

A test is performed to for each zone for each position fix 520 in orderto determine if the transponder 105 is inside the zone 515 or outsidethe zone 515. Thus, for each zone 515, the test starts with a simplecheck if the position fix 520 is inside or outside the pixel map 500. Ifthe current position fix 520 is inside the pixel map 500, a moreextensive test is completed by plotting the position fix 520 inside thebounding box and drawing four lines in four directions (north, south,east and west) from the position fix 520 to the borders of the pixel map500. Subsequently, the number of zone boundary crossings 530 is countedfor each of the four lines 525.

Multiple boundary crossing tests are performed for accuracy. If a givenline 525 crosses an odd number of zone boundaries 510, the position fix520 is considered inside the zone 515. If a given line 525 crosses aneven number of zone boundaries, the position fix 520 is consideredoutside the zone 515. If at least three out of the four boundarycrossing tests agree, the zone boundary crossings 530 are used todetermine if the position fix 520 is inside or outside the zone. Ifthree out of the four boundary tests do not agree, the position fix 520is considered outside the zone 515.

Position fixes 520 that are on the special locations in the pixel map500 can yield specific location results. In one embodiment, positionfixes 520 that land on a zone boundary 510 are determined to be outsidethe zone boundary 510. In another embodiment, position fixes 520 thatland on a zone boundary 510 are determined to be inside the zoneboundary 510. In one embodiment, position fixes 520 that land on a “longand narrow protrusion” which is only one pixel wide can be considered toalways be inside the zone 515. In another embodiment, position fixes 520that land on a “long and narrow protrusion” which is only one pixel widecan be considered to always be outside the zone 515.

After all the deflection points for a given zone are uploaded, the zoneis saved in the memory module 280 of the transponder 105 in the form ofa pixel map 500. The pixel map 500 is created by first drawing a squarearound the entire area of the zone. The square is then divided into an80/80-pixel map. Each pixel 505 is a square. These squares are then usedto draw the outline shape 510 of the zone 515. A geographical area isthen mapped to each pixel 505 of the pixel map 500. A position fix 520in the pixel map 500 is mapped from the current geographical location ofthe vehicle.

FIG. 5B illustrates a pixel map 550 of a geographical zone. The pixelmap 550 is first presented to the user as a geographical map on a screenconnected to a computing device. In one embodiment, the user thenselects a rectangular shape 555 around the geographical area 560 thatthe user desires to define. In another embodiment, the user may define acustomized shape. The rectangular shape is then divided into smallerrectangles such that the area of the rectangle is divided into a grid.Each pixel in the grid can be activated to be part of the geographicalzone. In one embodiment, the user may activate each pixel bydouble-clicking on each pixel. In another embodiment, the user mayselect a smaller rectangular region and mark the smaller rectangularregion as being part of the geographical zone 560 so that the pixelscontained in the smaller geographical zone are activated. In yet anotherembodiment, the user may select a circular area as being part of thegeographical zone 560, and all pixels in such circular area would beactivated. In another embodiment, the user may define any customizedgeometrical or non-geometrical shape.

Once all the desired pixels are selected by the user as being part ofthe geographical zone 560, the rectangular shape 555 is mapped into apixilated computer image. In one embodiment, the pixilated computerimage contains the same number of pixels as the number of sections inthe grid. The pixilated computer image can then be loaded to thetransponder 105. The transponder 105 can be programmed to determine theposition of the entity with a simple calculation of whether the pixel inwhich the transponder's location falls is activated or deactivated. Inanother embodiment, the geographical zone is defined by selecting arectangular region and a circular region. The circular region can bedefined by a waypoint.

An irregular zone or geographical zone may be defined by a collection ofwaypoints and pixilated images. Furthermore, each irregular zone mayhave additional parameters such as speed threshold of the entity,flagged as a “no-fly zone,” color coded in order of danger or securitythreat, communication enabled or disabled, etc.

When the transponder 105 enters or exits waypoints and zones, an eventmessage is transmitted indicating what reference point or zone has beenentered or exited. The event message can include latitude, longitude,speed, direction, time, state of the inputs, odometer, event reason orsource, and any other relevant information. Thus, the zone boundariesand waypoints allow the user to track a vehicle or an article throughconfigurable boundaries or geographical zones such as state borders or aspecified route.

In one embodiment, the waypoint and zone events are configurable to oneor more assigned outputs. Meaning, when the transponder 105 enters orexits waypoints and zones it can initiate an output. An output canconsist of a LED light unit within the vehicle or article, a doorlocking mechanism, a fuel valve mechanism and so forth. This means thatthe user can configure the vehicle to lock its doors or close a fuelvalve if the vehicle enters or exits a specific waypoint or zone.

Commands

The transponder 105 is also configurable to respond to various query andset commands sent over the air. The position query commands thetransponder 105 to return the last valid GPS position, speed, direction,time, input state, and other relevant information. The transponder canalso be configured to respond to an odometer query. Upon receiving thisquery command, the transponder 105 returns the last valid GPS position,speed, direction, time, input state, running odometer value, and otherrelevant information.

The transponder 105 is also configurable to respond to various querycommands sent over the optional satellite modem. The satellite positionquery commands the transponder 105 to return the last valid GPSposition, speed, and time. The transponder 105 can also be configured torespond to a satellite odometer query. Upon receiving this querycommand, the transponder 105 returns the state of its inputs and runningodometer value. Examples of other forms of query commands that are sentto the transponder 105 are Input and Output Signal Query, Analog toDigital Levels Query, Passenger Count Query, Firmware Version Query,Satellite Status Query, Satellite Position and Velocity Query, SatelliteOdometer and IO Query, etc.

Another optional command is the alarm acknowledgement. This command issent to the transponder 105 to terminate the sending of a priority event(panic, medical or roadside assistance are examples of priority events).When the alarm acknowledgement is received, no further priority messagesfor the current event are transmitted.

In one embodiment, the command is setting a single output. This is usedto change the state of an output to either active or inactiveover-the-air. An example would be to unlock the back door of an armoredtruck when it arrives at the bank or turn on the fuel pumps for a tankertruck when it arrives at a gas station.

In another embodiment, the command may be to send a text message, fromthe transponder 105 through the communication network to a deviceconfigured to receive and interpret text messages.

In another embodiment, the command is a configuration command toconfigure functionalities of the transponder 105 as previouslydiscussed. Examples of configuration commands include Configure TimedReporting, Set Odometer, Upload New Firmware, Configure Excess SpeedEvent, Configure Excessive Idle Event, Configure Satellite TimedReporting, Configure Power Level Critical, Configure SatelliteCommunication Port, Enable Event, Configure Priority Events, EnableCellular Message, Enable Short-Range Radio Message, Assert Output Event,Configure GPS Filter, Enable Input, Set Passenger Count, Configure SmartTimed Reporting, Configure Scheduled Reporting, Configure SatelliteScheduled Reporting.

The transponder 105 also may include a history reporting component.Whenever the transponder 105 cannot transmit data packets due to a lackof coverage via the principle communication mediums, the packers arestored in one of at least two history logs on on-board flash memorystorage device. When the transponder determines that the communicationlink has been re-established, any packets stored in memory aresequentially transmitted, beginning with those messages identified as apriority. For example, emergency or roadside assistance would be apriority message which would be the first message transmitted when theconnection is re-established.

In an effort to combat GPS drift, two parameters are included to filterGPS positions received from the GPS receiver. The two filters are basedupon maximum allowed speed and maximum allowed acceleration. Theparameters can be customized to the type of installation. If a packet isreceived from the GPS receiver and either of these two parameters isexceeded, the position packet is thrown out.

Backend Control System

FIG. 6 illustrates a backend control system 150. The backend controlsystem 150 includes a plurality of gateway systems 151-153, a codec 155,and an asynchronous routing system 159. In turn, the asynchronousrouting system 159, includes a web server 156, a plurality of routersystems 620, 622, a real time database 630, a history database 642, anda fleet database 670.

The real time database 630 maintains records of the most recentinformation form a transponder such as location, speed, direction,odometer reading, etc. The history database 642 maintains records of allevents and transactions that were received and sent from theasynchronous routing system 159. Finally, the fleet database 670 keepsrecords of all the administrative entities such as the controlled mobileand static objects to which a transponder is attached to (e.g. avehicle), users, transponder configuration, fleets, etc.

The backend control system 150 can be configured to run on anycombination of computer servers. In one embodiment, the plurality ofcommunication gateway systems 151-153 runs on independent computersystems. In another embodiment, the communication gateways 151-153 runon a common computer system.

The communications gateway systems 151-153 direct data flow from each ofthe transponders 105 into the backend control system 150. The gatewaysystems 151-153 also direct commands and queries to the appropriatetransponder 105. Each gateway establishes and maintains a communicationlink with a communications network 651-653. In one embodiment, thegateway is a Universal Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol (UDP/IP)packet receiver and sender 151 which connects to an internet/cellularnetwork 651. There may be more than one UDP/IP gateway 151 transmittingand receiving data. The UDP/IP gateway 151 allows the backend controlsystem 150 to communicate with transponders 105 over GSM/GPRS,CDMA/1×RTT and CDPD networks using UDP packets.

In another embodiment, the gateway system is a Short Message Peer toPeer (SMPP) gateway 152 that connects with a Short Message Service (SMS)network 652. A plurality of SMPP gateway systems 152 transmit andreceive data for transponders that communicate over SMS networks usingan SMPP protocol. Each SMPP gateway system 152 opens and maintains acontinuous connection to the service provider's Short Message ServiceCenter (SMSC) for incoming data so that reception of transponder 105data from the SMSC can be guaranteed.

In another embodiment, the gateway system is a satellite gateway 153that connects to a satellite network 653. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, thesatellite network 653 may include one or more satellites 130 and, atleast on ground station 145. The satellite gateway 153 transmits andreceives data for transponders 105 that communicate through satellitecommunication. In one embodiment, the satellite communication protocolmay be that of Inmarsat satellites using eight-byte packets of data. Thesatellite gateway 153 gateway opens and maintains a continuousconnection to the satellite network 653.

The communication between the asynchronous routing system andtransponders are channeled through an appropriate gateway system151-154. An appropriate gateway system 151-154 is selected based on aunique combination of transponder manufacturer, communications protocoland service provider. For example, a transponder 105 that uses CDPDcommunication would be routed through a different gateway system 151-154than a transponder 105 that uses SMS communications protocol. Likewise,transponders 105 that use the same communication protocol such as CDPD,but have a different service provider would have separate gateways.

As the gateway system 151-153 receives each inbound packet of data, thegateway system 151-153 tags each packet with the date and time ofarrival, the transponder 105 manufacturer information, the transponder's105 address information, and repackages the packet for transmission tothe codec 155. The gateway 151-153 then writes the repackaged data intoa queue 665 that is read by a codec 155.

When the gateway system 151-153 receives an outbound packet from anoutbound queue 661-664, the gateway system 151-153 uses the addressinformation to send the packet to the target transponder 105. Ifrequired, the gateway system 151-153 verifies before transmission thatthe gateway system 151-153 has an open and valid connection to thecorresponding network 651-653. Each gateway system 151-153 has at leastone corresponding outbound queue 661-663. For example, each UDP/IPgateway 151 has at least one outbound UDP/IP queue 661. Each SMPPgateway 152 has at least on outbound SMS queue 662. Each satellitegateway 153 has at least one outbound satellite 663. Each SMTP mailgateway 154 has at least one outbound SMTP queue 664.

After a packet is placed in the inbound queue 665 the data coming fromvarious networks is decoded into a standard data format. Likewise,before a packet is placed in an outbound queue 661-664, the data goingto different communications networks is coded from the standard dataformat, into a network specific format. The coding and decoding of datais carried out by the codec (coder-decoder) 155. The codec 155 permitsthe greater flexibility because the introduction of new communicationnetwork protocols is transparent to the asynchronous routing system 159.Thus, if a new transponder model uses a new communication networkprotocol, the backend control system does not need to be upgraded. Thesystem upgrades needed would be a codec 155 update and a new gateway ifnecessary.

When a packet comes into the asynchronous routing system 159, eachinbound packet that the codec 155 receives is first examined todetermine the transponder model. If the codec 155 supports the specifiedtransponder model, the data is translated from the transponder 105proprietary format into the standard system format. Once the codec 155has interpreted the data, the codec 155 then writes the data into aresponse queue 610. If the codec 155 does not recognize the transpondermodel, the codec 155 then logs the unsupported data and emails the datato a designated system or network technician.

When a packet is sent from the asynchronous routing system 159 the codec155 determines the transponder model to which the packet is sent. If thecodec 155 supports the specified transponder model, the data istranslated from the standard system format into the transponder 105proprietary format. Likewise, if the packet is sent to another devicethat is not a transponder 105, the codec determines if it supports thatdevice, and if so, translates to the appropriate format. Once the codec155 has interpreted and encoded the data, the codec 155 then places thepacket into the queue that corresponds to the appropriate type ofnetwork communication protocol. An SMS packet data would be placed intothe outbound SMS queue 662. If the codec 155 does not support thetransponder model, the codec 155 then logs the unsupported data andemails the data to a designated system or network technician.

Once a packet is processed by the codec 155, it then gets processeddepending if it is an outbound or inbound packet. Outbound packets areplaced in the appropriate outbound queue 661-664. Inbound packets arereceived by the asynchronous routing system 159 in a response queue 610.The response queue 610 feeds the packets to the response router 620. Theresponse router 620 determines if a client console 176 is tracking thetransponder 105 associated with the incoming message. If so, theresponse router 620 routes the incoming message to the appropriateclient console 176. Thus, the client console receives the message beforeany other process in the asynchronous routing system 159. If no clientconsole 176 is tracking the transponder 105 associated with the incomingmessage, the response router 620 places the incoming message into a newevent queue 621. The new event queue 620 feeds a new event router 622.The new event router 622 analyzes each incoming message and determinesif the incoming message is associated to a new priority event for thetransponder 105. The new event router 622 determines if the incomingmessage is associated to a new event by searching a real time database630 for a similar event associated to the transponder 105. If no eventis recorded for the transponder 105, or the event is of high priority,the new event router 622 sends a routing request to all client consoles176 that have permission to view the incoming message. The request isintermittently sent until at least one client console 176 accepts therouting request. Once the routing request is accepted, the clientconsole 176 adds the transponder 105 to an inventory in the clientconsole 176 so that the incoming message can be handled.

Asynchronously, a history queue 640 receives the inbound and outboundmessages for all transponders 105. The inbound messages are fed from thehistory queue 640 to the history recorder 641. The history recorder 641geocodes all packets that have a valid latitude and longitude. Thegeocoded information is saved in a history database 641 to be used laterfor reporting and statistical analysis.

Incoming messages from transponders 105 may also be forwarded to anemail address, or cellular telephone, or any other communicationsdevice. To achieve this functionality, the history recorder 641 alsotransmits the geocoded locations to remote notify routers 681 by placingthe geocoded locations in a remote notify queue 680. The remote notifyrouter 681 that receives the geocoded location and event informationqueries the fleet database 670 to find out if the configurationinformation associated with the transponder 105 requires a notificationto a communications device 177. If a notification is required, theremote notify router 681 retrieves the contact information for theappropriate communications device 177. The remote notify router 681 thenformats and encodes the message sent to the communications device 177.The message is placed in the outbound SMTP queue 664 to be sent throughthe SMTP gateway 154. The message can be placed in the outbound SMSqueue 662 to be sent through the SMPP gateway 152.

The real time database 630 is also updated with the new eventinformation associated with the incoming message. Thus, the real timedatabase 630 contains the latest information reported on a giventransponder 105. The real time database 630 is connected to a web server158. The web server 158 is directly connected to the internet 160 andallows users of a web tracking application 171 to make locationrequests, command requests 632 and report requests 633. When a webserver 158 receives a location request 631 from the web trackingapplication 171, the web server 158 queries the history database 642.The history database 642 contains all events in a chronological order.The web server 158 retrieves all transactions related to the webtracking application 171 query and forwards the data to the web trackingapplication 171 for displaying in a web browser.

When a web server 158 receives a location request 631 from the webtracking application 171, the web server 158 queries the real timedatabase 630 for the corresponding transponder 105 information. The realtime database 630 provides transponder information as related to thevery last incoming message from the incumbent transponder 105. The webtracking application 171 may also send a command request 632 such asquerying the position of the transponder. The command request 632 issent to the command receiver 690 which in turn process the positionrequest command by tagging the appropriate transponder 105 information.The message is encoded by the codec 155, placed in the appropriateoutbound queue 661-663 and sent through the corresponding gateway system151-154 to the transponder 105. The transponder 105 will then send backa response, and the backend control system 150 then processes itupdating the real time database 630. After the real time database 630has been updated, the web server 631 may refresh the contents of the webtracking application 171 showing the new position of the transponder105.

The command receiver 690 processes all commands pertaining to alloutbound messages to be sent to transponders. The command receiver mayreceive command messages from the client consoles 176, the administratorconsoles 175, or from the web server 158. When the command receiver 690receives a command message, the command receiver 690 tags each outboundmessage with the correct transponder 105 address by searching a fleetdatabase 670 and retrieving the address information. Each message issent by the command receiver 690 to the codec 155 for encoding.

All of the commands that are processed by the command receiver 690 areultimately sent remotely to the transponder 105. In one embodiment, thecommand is a Position Query. Upon receiving this query command, thetransponder 105 returns the last valid position, speed, direction, timeand input state. In another embodiment, the command is an OdometerQuery. Upon receiving this query command, the mobile products return thelast valid GPS position, speed, direction, time, input state, andrunning odometer value. In another embodiment, the command is anInput/Output Query. Upon receiving this query command, the transponderreturns the last updated state of all inputs and all outputs(active/inactive). For any given input, the active state is relative tothat the configuration of that input. For instance, if an input isconfigured to be active-low (H-L), then 0 volts at the input translatesinto that input being “active.” If the input is configured to be activehigh (L-H), then 12/24 volts at the input translates into that inputbeing “active.” In another embodiment, the command is a Time Report Setand/or Home IP. This command is sent to the transponders to configurethe reporting interval for the Timed Reporting feature of the firmware.This command can also be used for setting the transponder's destinationIP/MIN address. This command allows the transponders can be reconfiguredover-the-air to transmit to a new control center or home address if theIP/MIN address of the control center or home address changed. In anotherembodiment, the command is Set All Outputs. This command is sent to thetransponder to set all outputs simultaneously. Any individual output canbe either high or low. In another embodiment, the command is Set SingleOutput. This command is sent to the mobile products to set oneindividual output either high or low. In another embodiment, the commandis Enable/Disable Inputs and Events. This command is sent to thetransponders to enable/disable all known transponder features. Bothphysical and logical events can be individually enabled and/or disabled.While the physical and logical events can be disabled, the ability toquery the transponder for its location and status can remain enabled. Inanother embodiment, the command is an Alarm Acknowledgment. This commandcan be sent to the transponder to terminate the sending of an emergencyevent such as panic, roadside assistance, or medical assistance. Whenthe alarm acknowledgement is received, no further emergency messages forthe current event are transmitted from the transponder 105.

The asynchronous routing system 159 interacts with various controlconsoles. Reporting consoles 174 connect to the fleet database 670 todisplay fleet information. Administrator consoles 175 also connect tothe fleet database to retrieve transponder, vehicle, and userinformation. Administrator consoles 175 also connect to the commandreceiver 691 to send commands to the transponder 105. Operations dataprocessors 173 connect to the fleet database 670 in order to retrieveconfiguration information for a specific user or transponder 105.Finally, the client console 176 receives information for a trackedtransponder 105 from the response router 620, receives information for anon-tracked transponder from a new even router 621, and retrievesinformation from the fleet database 670. The client console alsotransmits command to a transponder 105 by sending the command to thecommand receiver 691.

Management Software

FIG. 7A illustrates a screenshot of an instance of the client console176. The client console 176 provides real-time transponder 105 locationmapping, location tracking, transponder control and transpondermessage/event handling.

In one embodiment, the client console 176 connects to map databases andtransponder databases by configuring multiple parameters. Such parametercan include path definition for the console map sets 710, any customdata sets 711, map information display symbols 712 and console operatingprocedures 713. The Settings are maintained in the system registry andrecalled at program load. In another embodiment, the client console 176provides the ability to configure mapping parameters used by the clientconsole 176. The client console 176 also provides with the ability todefine the console location, default zoom levels when displaying thevarious program-generated maps, the map set to be used and whether ornot street locations are displayed when mapping a location. FIG. 7Billustrates a screenshot of an instance of the client console 176. Agraphical user interface allows maps to be displayed on the clientconsole 176. In one embodiment, the client console 176 displays allavailable transponders on one master map. In another embodiment, theclient console 176 allows a user to view transponders by groups 721 orindividually 720. In another embodiment, the client console allows auser to view all transponders that come within an area 722 displayed bythe map. In another embodiment, the client console 176 allows a user toview all transponders that are within a waypoint. In another embodiment,the client console 176 allows a user to view all transponders that arewithin a zone.

The client console 176 allows a user to employ a variety of mappingtools to help manage transponder 105 location processing. Provided toolsinclude map zoom in/out, map pan, map feature label, map ruler, maplocation at selected point, map legend, center map on selected point,find a map feature and center map on it, display information for aselected custom dataset element, display information for a selectedtransponder, display information for a standard map feature and printthe displayed map.

Further, the displayed map uses color-coding for both location symboland location identification to indicate special conditions relating tothe transponder 105. Special situations that are color-coded includetransponder moving, transponder stopped, transponder not reporting,transponder location is old and transponder has a priority messageactive.

As illustrated by FIG. 7C, the client console 176 can generate auser-operating log that includes all messages received by the console740, commands sent by the console 741 and key events 742 that occurduring console operation. In another embodiment, the generated log isinteractive such that a user can append a free form remark to the eventlog and to recall and view the event log for any selectable time period.In another embodiment, the client console 176 provides the ability togenerate a summary list of the assigned transponder inventory and thecurrent real-time status of a selected transponder.

FIG. 7D illustrates a screenshot of the client console 176 with agenerated list displaying a transponder summary table 750 and a mastermap 751. The client console also allows the user to view a chronologicallisting of all messages 752 received at the client console 176 and allcommands 753 transmitted from the client console 176 to the transponder105.

The transponder summary table 750 displays all transponder informationand is updated in real time as the transponder reports to the clientconsole 176. The transponder data shown are the data corresponding tothe transponders belonging to the inventory of a user. The transpondersummary table 750 uses icons and color-coding to alert the user tospecial conditions. Special situations that are color-coded includetransponder moving, transponder stopped, transponder not reporting,transponder location is old and transponder has a priority messageactive. In another embodiment, the user has the ability to find any itemin the transponder summary table 750, select which columns are visibleand to sort the table according to selectable sort types and sort ordersfor up to three columns.

In another embodiment, the client console 176 provides a user theability to select an item in the transponder summary table 750 andperform an operation that is related to the selected item or its group.For example if a transponder is selected, various operations related tothe transponder may include adding the transponder to the master map,removing the transponder from the master map, creating a group map,creating an individual map, centering the map on the selectedtransponder location, viewing the input/output/and event states for thetransponder, setting the message notification mode for the transponder,viewing an information screen that contains detailed information fromthe master database pertaining to the transponder and viewing anysupplementary information contained in the location data packet that isnot otherwise displayed.

In another embodiment, the client console 176 provides a user theability to select a transponder in the transponder summary table 750 andsend a command/query to the selected transponder. The command/query listavailable to the user is dependent on the user's profile in the mastersystem database. In another embodiment, the command is sent from a webbased client console such as the web tracking application 171.

In another embodiment, the client console 176 provides a user theability to receive popup alert notification, including a sound cue,whenever a message event, a standard event or priority event is receivedat the client console 176. Notification modes may be enabled or disabledfor each transponder. In one embodiment, the notification modes areconfigured in the fleet database 670. In another embodiment, thenotification modes are configured locally in the client console 176.When a priority message is received, the user has the ability to cancelthe message, switch reporting to the emergency mode, or continue to usethe standard reporting mode. The transponder summary table 750 displayspriority messages with a special icon under the transponderidentification column.

FIG. 8 illustrates a screenshot of an instance of the administratorconsole 175. The administrator console 175 allows the creation andmaintenance of client configurations. The administrator console 175updates the fleet database 670. As FIG. 7B illustrates, theadministrator console 175 allows access to each fleet by displayingdisplays a list of fleets 820. Each fleet may be accessed to view andmanage all the vehicles associated to the selected fleet. A list ofvehicles 821 are associated with each fleet in the list of fleets 820.Each vehicle in the list of vehicles 821 has a corresponding list oftransponders 822, passengers 823 and operators 824. Each transponder inthe list of transponders 822 may be selected for configuration.Likewise, the list of operators 824 may be selected to add, edit ordelete an operator. The list of passengers 823 may be selected to add,edit or delete a passenger for the corresponding vehicle.

FIG. 9A illustrates a screenshot of an instance of the operations dataprocessor 173. The operations data processor 173 allows to createmaintain zones, waypoints and transponder loads for the transponder 105.Zones, waypoints and sites are created and maintained with apoint-and-click mapping interface as illustrated by FIG. 9A. Thegraphical interface provided by the operations data processor 173displays a map 910 of the area where a waypoint 920 is to be installed.In one embodiment, the graphical interface allows to expand or reducethe radius 930 around the waypoint. In another embodiment, the radiusinformation is entered by typing the number on a given field of thegraphical user interface. The operations data processor 173 allows tomaintain a list of waypoints 940 and view each waypoint 920 in a thecorresponding map 910.

FIG. 9B illustrates a screenshot of an instance of the operations dataprocessor 173. The graphical interface provided by the operations dataprocessor 173 displays a map 910 of the area where a zone 950 is to bedelineated. The zone 950 is defined by deflection points 951 and thelines that connect the deflection points 951. The deflection points 951may be indicated by clicking on the map 910. A list of zones 960 arealso displayed by the operations data processor 173, along with acollection of deflection points 970. Each zone 950 can be edited bychanging the deflection points 951.

FIG. 9C illustrates a screenshot of an instance of the operations dataprocessor 173. The graphical interface provided by the operations dataprocessor 173 displays a window to configure transponder loads. Atransponder load is a collection of zones and waypoints to be loaded toa transponder. Each client edits a collection of transponder loads. Thetransponder loads are later downloaded to each transponder 105 accordingto the configuration in the fleet database 670. A load is configured byselecting a client 980, and selecting the desired waypoints 981 andzones 982 that were defined by the client 980. The waypoints 981 andzones 982 selected are those that will later be downloaded to thetransponder 105.

FIG. 10A illustrates a screenshot of an instance of the history dataprocessor 173. The history data processor 173 permits the retrieving andmapping historical data and events associated with selected vehicles andtransponders. The graphical user interface displays an interactive map1010 and the geographical points 1020 where an event occurred. In oneembodiment, the history data processor 173 allows the user to click oneach geographical point 1020 and see the event information 1030 reportedat that geographical point 1020. In another embodiment, the history dataprocessor 173 allows the user to select a group of geographical points1020 and replay the history of a transponder or of a vehicle along theselected geographical points 1020. In another embodiment, the historydata processor 173 allows the user to select all geographical points1020 and replay the history of a transponder or of a vehicle along theselected geographical points. In one embodiment, the history replay willreplay the movement of the vehicle according to the streets traveled,the direction, and the speed. In another embodiment, as the history ofthe vehicle is replayed, the event information 1030 is displayed forevery geographical point 1020 reached.

In another embodiment, the history replay can replay the historyaccording to selected period. In another embodiment, the history replaycan replay the history as related to a selected waypoint 920. In anotherembodiment, the history replay can replay the history as related to aselected zone 950.

FIG. 10B illustrates a screenshot of an instance of the history dataprocessor 173. The history data processor 173 also permits theretrieving and reporting mapping historical data and events associatedwith selected vehicles and transponders. In one embodiment, a graphicaluser interface form a computer application displays a list of availablereports 1040. In another embodiment, a graphical user interface in a webbrowser displays a list of available reports 1040. Once an item in thelist of available reports 1040 is selected, the report 1050 is displayedto the user. Each report 1050 is configurable to be generated based onmultiple parameter options such as a time period, types of events, typesof transponders, a specific transponder, a specific zone, a waypoint,types of vehicles, a vehicle, etc.

FIG. 11 illustrates a screenshot of an instance of a disable transponderprocessor 1100. The disable transponder processor 1100 allows anaccounting department to disable transponders 105 for nonpayment andenable them at the time of subscription or when payment is made. In oneembodiment, a disable transponder processor 1100 can be connected to theaccounting processing data exchange 177. In another embodiment thedisable transponder processor 1100 can be a stand-alone applicationinstalled on computer systems used by an accounting department. Inanother embodiment the disable transponder processor 1100 can be a webapplication accessible only by members of an accounting department.

The disable transponder processor 1100 provides a list of transponders1110 that are disabled, and a list of transponders that are enabled. Ifa user disbles or enables a transponder 105, the transponderconfiguration 105 is updated in the fleet database 670 and is also sentto the command receiver 690 for processing. The command receiver 690sends a message to the transponder 105 to turn off its functions.

While the above description contains many specifics, these should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of the disclosure, but rather asan exemplification of one embodiments thereof.

The method and system described above contemplate many applications ofthe present disclosure. The present disclosure includes a system whichhas the capability to control and monitor a moving object or a staticobject prone to be moved. The object can be many things such as vehicle,aircraft, airborne items, animals, persons, cargo, specialized and/orvolatile cargo such as chemicals, weapons, or hazardous materials. Inaddition, fragile cargo can include, but is not limited to items suchas, medicine, patients, organs for donation, where monitoring parameterssuch as temperature, pressure, humidity, blood pressure, ekg, and otherconditions are critical to the integrity of the item. Anotherclimate-sensitive object for which tracking, monitoring and localcontrol is beneficial includes produce and perishable goods. Forexample, the transponder could monitor humidity and have the ability tocontrol the amount of moisture in cargo containing perishable items thatare susceptible to humidity. Moreover, these objects can include anyother item where tracking its movement and/or location is beneficial. Atransponder can be mounted, attached, manufactured, or otherwiseincluded upon or within these various articles. The transponder iscontemplated to be of many different sizes including nano- and/or microscale-transponder. Within the context of the tracking system, thetransponder works to collect, process, and communicate variousinformation about the article or vehicle the transponder is attached to.Furthermore, when requested, the transponder can issue various commandsand instructions to the local article or vehicle. These commands orinstructions to the local article or vehicle are contemplated to includeany command that can change, alter, or enhance, the mechanism, thefunction, the structure or the composition of the article or vehicle.For example, a medical application of the present disclosurecontemplates a transponder with the ability to monitor a patient's vitalsigns. The transponder can be hardwired or hooked up to intravenoustubes, medical machines, and other medical equipment. Thus, for example,the user is capable of remotely administering medicine by commanding thetransponder to perform the function. Furthermore, a change in vitalsigns could send an event message to the transponder where thetransponder could send a message to a response center or directly to acellular phone of the patient's physician or to a plurality of cellularphones, such as to family members, for example.

Additional applications and situations include military applicationswhere it is necessary to not only track and monitor a vehicle or person,but where it is also beneficial to be able to control functions on thevehicle or person. For example, it may be desired to control the firingability of a military vehicle, or control similar functions once thevehicle enters a certain territory or turn off certain capabilities oncethe vehicle enters a peaceful zone. Similarly, an additional applicationto aircrafts and airborne items considered. The transponder would havethe same capabilities; however, the transponder could position basedupon on a 3-D point in space, not merely longitude and latitude.Naturally, each one of these applications remains configurable andcontrollable over-the-air.

Furthermore, the disclosure includes any combination or subcombinationof the elements from the different species and/or embodiments disclosedherein. One skilled in the art will recognize that these features, andthus the scope of this disclosure, should be interpreted in light of thefollowing claims and any equivalents thereto.

1. A method to wirelessly monitor an entity having an attachedtransponder, comprising: loading from a computing device to a memory inan attached transponder a plurality of coordinates; programming amicroprocessor in the attached transponder to define a geographical zoneusing said plurality of coordinates to create an enclosed area on apixilated image, wherein said enclosed area is representative of ageographical zone; programming the microprocessor in the attachedtransponder to determine the occurrence of an event associated with thestatus of the entity in relation to the geographical zone; andconfiguring the microprocessor in the transponder to transmit the datarelated to the occurrence of an event from the attached transponder to auser.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the status of the entity isbased upon movement of the entity.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thestatus of the entity is based upon position of the entity.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein the status of the entity is based upon non-movementof the entity.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is leaving ageographical zone, entering a geographical zone, turning on an ignitionto the entity, turning off the ignition to the entity, change of speedof the entity, change of temperature of an engine of the entity, changeof internal temperature of the entity, change of fuel level in a fueltank of the entity, locking of a door or latch of the entity, unlockingof the door or latch of the entity, opening a window of the entity,closing a window of the entity, opening a door of the entity, closing ofa door of the entity, pushing a button connected to the entity inrelation to an emergency, reaching a predetermined distance traveled,reaching a predetermined time traveled, reaching a predetermined time,reaching a predetermined date, reaching a maximum speed threshold,reaching a maximum time permitted to maintain a status of being over thespeed threshold, reaching a maximum a acceleration threshold, reachingmaximum length of idle of a vehicle, change of the power level of thebattery, a bar code scanned by a connected scanner, passenger loading orunloading, cargo loading or unloading, vehicle part malfunction, vehiclediagnostics code received, impact detected, airbag deployed, seatbeltslatched, seatbelts unlatched, or change of tire air pressure.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the data transmitted from the attachedtransponder is the speed of the entity, direction of movement of theentity, state of an electrical input to the entity, state of anelectrical output of the entity, or geographical position of the entity.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data transmitted from the attachedtransponder is communicated to a control center.
 8. The method of claim1, further comprising communicating the occurrence of the event to aportable device.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein data communicated tothe control center is further communicated to a portable device.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said enclosed area on a pixilated image isformed by assigning each pixel is to a coordinate and configuring thedistance between each assigned pixel.
 11. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid enclosed area is created by connecting a plurality of assignedpixels by lines, wherein a series of contiguous and connected linesenclose an area in the pixilated image and wherein said pixels that lieon the lines are turned on in order to form a contiguous array of pixelsthat enclose a shape in the pixilated image.
 12. A method to wirelesslymonitor an entity having an attached transponder, comprising: defining ageographical zone using a plurality of waypoints, wherein each waypointis defined by a geographical coordinate and a radius originating fromthe geographical coordinate; loading from a computing device to theattached transponder's memory a plurality of waypoints; programming amicroprocessor in the attached transponder to determine the occurrenceof an event associated with the position of the entity in relation tothe geographical zone; and configuring the microprocessor in thetransponder to transmit the data related to the occurrence of an eventfrom the attached transponder to a user.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein the status of the entity is based upon movement of the entity.14. The method of claim 12, wherein the status of the entity is basedupon position of the entity.
 15. The method-of claim 12, wherein thestatus of the entity is based upon non-movement of the entity.
 16. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the event is leaving a geographical zone,entering a geographical zone, turning on an ignition to the entity,turning off the ignition to the entity, change of speed of the entity,change of temperature of an engine of the entity, change of internaltemperature of the entity, change of fuel level in a fuel tank of theentity, locking of a door or latch of the entity, unlocking of the dooror latch of the entity, opening a window of the entity, closing a windowof the entity, opening a door of the entity, closing of a door of theentity, pushing a button connected to the entity in relation to anemergency, reaching a predetermined distance traveled, reaching apredetermined time traveled, reaching a predetermined time, reaching apredetermined date, reaching a maximum speed threshold, reaching amaximum time permitted to maintain a status of being over the speedthreshold, reaching a maximum a acceleration threshold, reaching maximumlength of idle of a vehicle, change of the power level of the battery, abar code scanned by a connected scanner, passenger loading or unloading,cargo loading or unloading, vehicle part malfunction, vehiclediagnostics code received, impact detected, airbag deployed, seatbeltslatched, seatbelts unlatched, or change of tire air pressure.
 17. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the data transmitted from the attachedtransponder is the speed of the entity, direction of movement of theentity, state of an electrical input to the entity, state of anelectrical output of the entity, or geographical position of the entity.18. The method of claim 12, wherein the data transmitted from theattached transponder is communicated to a control center.
 19. The methodof claim 18, wherein the data communicated to the control center isfurther communicated to a portable device.
 20. The method of claim 12,wherein the geographical coordinate is represented by a latitude andlongitude, and the radius is represented by a distance magnitude. 21.The method of claim 20, wherein the attached transponder can determinewhether the attached transponder is inside or outside the geographicalzone by obtaining global positioning coordinates, and calculatingwhether or not the global positioning coordinates are inside at leastone waypoint of the plurality of waypoints.
 22. The method of claim 20,wherein the shape of the geographical area is the shape of the borderdelimiting a street route, a state, a city, a county, or a country. 23.The method of claim 20, wherein shape of the geographical area is theshape of a non-geometrical shape.
 24. The method of claim 20, whereinthe waypoints in the plurality of waypoints have the same coordinate butdifferent radii, such that all the waypoints in the plurality ofwaypoints are concentric.
 25. A method to wirelessly monitor an entityhaving an attached transponder, comprising: using a computing device toidentify a geometrical area using at least two coordinate attributes,wherein said geometrical area is divided into a grid having at least onesection; defining a geographical zone by selecting within the grid theat least one section representative of a desired area and correlating atleast one section into a pixilated computer image by associating atleast one section to a pixel; loading said pixilated computer image intothe attached transponder's memory; programming a microprocessor in theattached transponder to determine the occurrence of an event associatedwith the position of the entity in relation to the geographical zone;and configuring the microprocessor in the transponder to transmit thedata related to the occurrence of an event from the attached transponderto a user.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the status of the entityis based upon movement of the entity.
 27. The method of claim 25,wherein the status of the entity is based upon position of the entity.28. The method of claim 25, wherein the status of the entity is basedupon non-movement of the entity.
 29. The method of claim 25, wherein theevent is leaving a geographical zone, entering a geographical zone,turning on an ignition to the entity, turning off the ignition to theentity, change of speed of the entity, change of temperature of anengine of the entity, change of internal temperature of the entity,change of fuel level in a fuel tank of the entity, locking of a door orlatch of the entity, unlocking of the door or latch of the entity,opening a window of the entity, closing a window of the entity, openinga door of the entity, closing of a door of the entity, pushing a buttonconnected to the entity in relation to an emergency, reaching apredetermined distance traveled, reaching a predetermined time traveled,reaching a predetermined time, reaching a predetermined date, reaching amaximum speed threshold, reaching a maximum time permitted to maintain astatus of being over the speed threshold, reaching a maximum aacceleration threshold, reaching maximum length of idle of a vehicle,change of the power level of the battery, a bar code scanned by aconnected scanner, passenger loading or unloading, cargo loading orunloading, vehicle part malfunction, vehicle diagnostics code received,impact detected, airbag deployed, seatbelts latched, seatbeltsunlatched, or change of tire air pressure.
 30. The method of claim 25,wherein the data transmitted from the attached transponder is the speedof the entity, direction of movement of the entity, state of anelectrical input to the entity, state of an electrical output of theentity, or geographical position of the entity.
 31. The method of claim25, wherein the data transmitted from the attached transponder iscommunicated to a control center.
 32. The method of claim 31, whereinthe data communicated to the control center is further communicated to aportable device.
 33. The method of claim 25, wherein said geometricalarea is rectangular and is divided into a plurality of rectangles. 34.The method of claim 25, wherein said geometrical area is circular and isdivided into a plurality of sections.